Feeding finger



Nov. 28, 1939. .1 v. ANSLINGER FEEDING FINGER E Filed April 29, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR z/l/sr/n/ l. /4/vsu/v6/ A TTORNE Y0 Nov. 28,1939; 4. v4 ANSLINGER FEEDING FINGER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29,1938 Patented Nov. 28, 1939 ourrsojsTATES OFFICE My invention relates tofeeding fingers for automatic screw machines.

It is the object of my invention to provide an apparatus for and amethod .of feeding small steel, brass and other wires that are easilydamaged. a

It is an object to provide a feeding finger which will not scar the wire'Heretofore if the wire stock was fed when the collet opened there was aslipping action of the feeding finger when the stock stop met the wire.The general practice has been to feed the wire stock out a little toofar and have the stock stop pushed back to the exact position justbefore the collet closes.

The second type of scarring took place when the feeding finger waspulled back down the stock after the collet was closed. The friction ofthe feeding finger was on the stock at all times, although the feedingfinger rotated with the stock. Nevertheless it still scarred the wire byslipping.

It is the object of this invention to provide a feeding finger thatrotates with the arc in the center less than that of the stock. Iprovide for a clamping action. I provide means whereby when the stockmoves within the feeding finger, the rolls will rotate and not scar thestock.

It is an object to provide a feeding finger which will push the rodstock forward at the time when the collet is open. Thereafter the colletcloses, clamping or holding the rod.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the feeding finger of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof looking at the face of the feedingrollers.

Figure 3 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 2, looking at theends of the feeding rollers.

Figure 4 is a section through the feeding mech anism of an automaticscrew machine showing the feeding finger where it has just advanced Theforward end of the finger has its interior chamber 4 reduced into anarrow sleeve 5 in the end of which there are the jaws 6 and I, in whichare mounted the axles 8 for carrying the guide pulleys 9. This finger issplit on either side by this narrowslot III and thebroad slot II. The

two rolls 9 have flanges So that abut one another so as toform a space I2 between them for receiving the stock wire I3. As this wire is roundand the space between the rolls 9 is less than a full round to receivethe wire, a clamping action results due'to the spring fingers 4a and 4bof the body Iiof thefeeding finger. v

In operation, the parts perform as follows. The feeding finger, whenitreciprocates with refer- 1o ence to the wire I3, rolls on the wirewithout scarring it. At'the time therod or wire I3 is pushed forward inthe collet H, the collet is open. This allows the feeding finger I topush the rod stock I3 forward. Then the collet closes 15 and clamps orholds the rod. The collet I1 is supplied in the usual manner so that itsprings open when the clamping sleeve I8 releases it as shownin Figure5. This sleeve is forced forwardly by the lever I9 actuated by the cam20 through the sleeve 2| which engages with the rear ends of the chucklevers 22'that are fulcrumed at 23. The ends of these chuck levers at 24engage with the rear end of the clamping sleeve I8. This sleeve ispushed backwardly by the expansion of the'collet IT, as shown in Figure5.

With the feeding finger of this invention, it will be noted that therolls 9 will roll on the stock I3 without injury when the sleeve 3 iswith- 0 drawn by the lever I4 and its cam follower. I5 operating in thecam I6.

It will thus be observed that the rod stock I3 is first fed forward bythe feeding finger I and its rolls 9. At this time, the collet I! isopen. .Upon

the accomplishment of the feeding operation, the collet I1 is closed bythe clamping sleeve I8 so as to hold the rod stock I3, and thereafterthe. clamping finger is withdrawn and the rolls 9 .will roll upon thestock without injuring it or scarring it.

It will be understood that a variety of differ!- ent types of automaticfeeds may be employed and that shown in Figures 4 and 5 is merely atypical form. The invention does not lie in the particular type ofautomatic feeding mechanism, but only in the combinationof the basicelements thereof with the novel feeding finger. The invention also liesin the novel construction of the finger itself. q 50 It will beunderstood that the yielding nature of the spring finger ends 44 and 4bof the feeding finger will tend to clamp the rolls 9 upon the stock I 3.As explained, when there is no stock in position, the space I2 is lessthan the'full diameter of a piece of rod stock l3, so that when thestock is inserted between the rolls 9, the spring fingers 4a and 417will be spread apart and the rolls 9 will tightly engage through thegrooves between the flanges 9a the stock l3.

This clamping engagement is sufiicient to feed the stock forwardly whenthe collet H is open, but not sufficient to prevent the withdrawal ofthe feeding finger with the rolls 9 in rolling engagement with the stock53 when the stock l3 is clamped by the collet H. In this way, thefeeding is automatic and the stock is alternately gripped by the rolls 9without scarring it.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it tovarying conditionsand uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture for use as a feeding finger inautomatic screw machines, a feeding finger comprising a base portion andspring arm portions adapted to be moved towards one another, rollers inthe ends of said arms partially extending across the space between saidarms and adapted to receive a stock rod within and between them, saidfinger being hollow for the reception of said rod, the spring armportions of said finger resiliently pressing said rollers towards eachother in such manner as to grip said stock rod.

2. In combination, in a feeding finger, a cylindrical body partiallysplit into two spring fingers normally spaced apart from one another topermit stock to pass freely through said feeding finger, axles fixedlymounted in the ends of' said spring fingers, freely mounted grooverollers centrally mounted on said axles and extending partially throughthe space between said split ends of the feeding finger whereby saidspring fingers resilientlypress said rollers towards each other in suchmanner that said rollers can either roll upon the stock or clamp it.

3. In combination, a feeding finger comprising a hollow body having aface portion of spaced spring finger portions, said finger portionshaving their ends recessed, axles fixedly mounted in said ends andtraversing said recesses, groove rollers centrally mounted on said axlesand extending partially across the space between said spring fingerportions, said finger portions resiliently pressing said rollers towardseach other in such manner as to grip rod stock passing between them.

JUSTIN v. ANSLINGER.

